MULTIVARIATE CHARACTERIZATION OF UNDERUTILIZED ROSELLE (HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA L.) GENOTYPES FOR AGRO-MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATION, FRESH LEAF YIELD AND LEAF NUTRITIONAL QUALITY

Abstract

Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) is an underutilized leafy vegetable with significant potential for improving food and nutritional security. However, information on the performance of roselle genotypes under rabi season cultivation and the nutritional characteristics of leaf remains limited. The present study evaluated thirty roselle genotypes for agro-morphological and physiological traits under rabi season using multivariate approaches and identified superior genotypes through selection index analysis, followed by biochemical characterization of selected elite lines. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India. Significant variation was observed among the evaluated genotypes for all studied morphological and physiological traits. Genotype 23 recorded superior performance for plant height, stem diameter, leaf area index, and average fresh leaf yield per plant per picking, while G15 exhibited the highest ascorbic acid, total phenol and total soluble solids contents together with the lowest oxalate content among the elite genotypes. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive associations of fresh leaf yield with plant height and leaf area index. Principal component and cluster analyses further confirmed diversity among the evaluated genotypes and supported the identification of superior lines. The findings demonstrate the availability of valuable genetic variability in roselle and identify promising genotypes for improving fresh leaf yield and nutritional quality. These elite genotypes may serve as useful genetic resources for developing high-yielding, nutritionally superior roselle cultivars adapted to rabi season cultivation under Coimbatore conditions.